December 1, 2018 - JS - Stereo Favorites

Rockin' Remnants




Rockin' Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9pm! (Or download the WVBR+ app now available for iOS and Android!)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

Date:  12/1/18
Host:  John Simon
Feature:  Stereo Favorites



December 1: the first show after my birthday, and the day that should have been John "Buz" Ortiz' 75th birthday. Buz was a regular listener who was part of the WVBR family. We dedicate this weekend's programming to his memory, and I plan to play a bunch of my favorite tunes in shimmering stereo. 



  







Playlist

·      yellow song titles are YouTube links

·      songs with * were requests

·      all chart information comes from the Billboard Top 100 (for chart dates before/during July 1958) or Billboard Hot 100 (for chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·      a glossary of terms is below the playlist

6-7pm 



OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)


Sweet Cherry Wine - Tommy James & The Shondells (3/69; #7 - Buz donated a bunch of records to WVBR many years ago. One of them was "Cellophane Symphony" by TJ & the Shondells. This one goes straight back at him!)

 

Uncle John's Band - Grateful Dead (8/70; #69 - this was their first charting single and Buz requested it a number of times over the years.)


* Voices in the Sky - Moody Blues (10/68; #27 UK - one of Buz' daughters called to request something from the "In Search of the Lost Chord" album, which used to get played a lot when they were growing up. This song was released as a single in England, but not here in the States.)

Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo) - Manfred Mann - (3/68; #10 Pop, #1 UK for two weeks - this was purportedly one of Dylan's favorite interpretations of his writing, and appears here in first-time stereo)

Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners (2/59; #12 Pop, #5 R&B - these five white teens from Pittsburgh struck a chord on Black radio with the soulful vocals of Jimmy Beaumont and the soaring soprano of Janet Vogel)

Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys (7/66; #8 - this was the second single from their Pet Sounds LP, released for stereo on CD after many years as a mono-only track. Stunning!)

I Do - Beach Boys (ca. 1963 - this was never released back in the day except as a single by the Castells. Tonight we hear the Beach Boys' interpretation in stunning stereo!)

Gonna Get Along Without You Now - Skeeter Davis (5/64; #48 Pop, #8 C&W - this cover of the Patience & Prudence hit was produced by Chet Atkins and featured some of Nashville's best players)

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson (1965; nr - this was slated for release on Motown's "Soul Records" imprint but was pulled at the last minute. For many years it was seen as one of those "holy grail" records - only a handful of copies existed. Fortunately for those of us in the CD age, it has been unleashed for the masses  -  and tonight it's in rare stereo!)

* Have I The Right - Honeycombs (9/64; #5 Pop; #1UK for three weeks - going out to our buddy George, this comes to you in stunning stereo from Eric Records)

* Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares (4/62; #1 for two weeks - it has become an annual tradition to play this one as a dedication to the DJ on his annual birthday show. Darlene Love and The Blossoms sing harmony vocals. Thanks to Barbara for calling it in.)

* Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins (3/56; #2 for four weeks - this was released on Sun Records. Unfortunately for them, RCA released Elvis' version of the same song at about the same time that Sun released Carl's version. Sales were split and Carl was denied a #1 record.)

Tell Me Why - Beatles (1965; nr - The Beatles churned out so many great songs that Capitol was hard-pressed to put them all out as singles. This is a brilliant album track that never gets old.)

Since You Showed Me How to Be Happy - Jackie Wilson (11/67; #32 Pop, #22 R&B - this jumping follow-up to Higher & Higher deserved to chart higher and higher. It featured the same production team and same moonlighting Motown players as its predecessor, but couldn't equal its success.)

7-8pm

 Birthday Calendar


November 25 – Percy Sledge – born in 1940
            – Bob Lind – age 73 
            
November 26 – Tina Turner – age 79
            – John McVie (Fleetwood Mac) – age73
  November 29 – Felix Cavaliere (Rascals) – age 77
           


December 1 – Lou Rawls – born in 1935
            – Gilbert O'Sullivan – age72
             

I've Been Lonely Too Long - Young Rascals (1/67; #16 - my last show featured longer versions of songs that were edited to ensure AM Radio airplay. This 45 clocked in almost one whole minute shorter than the LP version. Tonight we hear the full song in stereo!)

Cheryl's Going Home - Bob Lind (1/66; dnc - Bob Lind's biggest hit The Elusive Butterfly was originally put on the b-side of this 45. Tonight we hear the original "a-side.")

Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac (11/75; #20 - this was the first single released from their landmark first album with Buckingham and Nicks. Tonight we hear the rare 45 version.)

Your Good Thing (Is About to End) - Lou Rawls (7/69; #18 Pop, #3 R&B - this gritty cover of Mabel John's original Stax recording was one of his final Capitol releases. He'd soon be moving over to Philadelphia International and cutting slicker records....)

Let's Stay Together - Tina Turner (1/84; #26 Pop, #3 R&B - this was the first single taken from her wildly successful Private Dancer LP. The 45 trims two minutes off the album version. Tina Turner does Al Green.)

I've Gotta Get a Message to You - Percy Sledge (1969; nr - this soulful cover the Bee Gees' song was an album track in the UK and never even available here in the States until recently. What a pity!)

* A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke (1/65; #31 Pop, #9 R&B - This posthumous hit has become one of the era's greatest Civil Rights anthems. Tonight we hear it in stunning stereo, going out to my friend Ned in the hills of West Danby.)

* Splish Splash - Bobby Darin (6/58; #3 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks - what a way to kick off a recording career! This one goes out to young Luca, who was originally wanting "some Blues." He came to his senses just in time!)

I'll Be There - Jackson 5 (10/70; #1 Pop and R&B for six weeks - this was their fourth single and the fourth to reach #1 on both charts. I send it out to my kid sister, tuned in from far-off Vermont. "Just look over your shoulders, honey!")

Fire and Rain - James Taylor (9/70; #3 for three weeks - this comes to you on the radio station promo 45, designed to sound especially punchy on the radio. This is the Stereo side.)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Demensions (7/60; #16 - a just-about-perfect Doo Wop single from a Brooklyn teen group. In stereo, too!)

A Groovy Kind of Love - Mindbenders (4/66; #2 - on the powder-blue Fontana Records label here in the States. First-time stereo from our friends at Eric Records!)

* America - Simon & Garfunkel (11/72; #97 - this was actually an album track from 1968's Bookends LP and just scraped into the Hot 100 several years later. It has come to be recognized as one of Paul Simon's crowning achievements.)

The Lonely Surfer - Jack Nitzsche (8/63; #39 - the master arranger decided to release a single under his own name. This majestic instrumental is just dripping atmosphere....)

When You Walk in the Room - Jackie DeShannon (1/64; #99 - another Jack Nitzsche production that deserved a much better fate. The Searchers would ride this one to a loftier chart position thanks to the British Invasion, but this one is a masterpiece.)

8-9pm


Clair - Gilbert O'Sullivan (10/72; #2 Pop, #1 UK for two weeks - a whimsical ode to a younger girl, which seems sort of creepy until you realize he's singing to his very young niece. Today, by the way, was his birthday.)

Distant Shores - Chad & Jeremy (7/66; #30 - a gorgeous orchestral piece by two young Brits, back when all musical styles could be found on a single radio station.)

Bells of Rhymney - Byrds (5/65; nr - this album track was included on their Mr. Tambourine Man LP, and could've been a smash hit.)

* Smoke From a Distant Fire - Sanford/Townsend Band (6/77; #9 - a bonafide "one-hit-wonder" record, this is their only entry on the Billboard chart. Great request!)

Could Be We're In Love - Cryan' Shames (8/67; #85 - I didn't mean to play this one, but it's one of my personal favorites from a great Chicago-based group. This is the stereo LP version. Happy Birthday to me!)

Cissy Strut - The Meters (4/69; #23 Pop, #4 R&B - these guys hail from New Orleans and are one of the funkiest instrumental bands of the era.)

Soul Deep - Gary U.S. Bonds (1982; dnc - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band had been closing their shows with GUSB's "Quarter to Three." They tracked him down and resuscitated his career by producing and playing on a couple of early-Eighties LPs. This is a great cover the Box Tops' tune.)

Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) - Al Green (10/74; #7 Pop, #2 R&B - if I'm playing my favorites I might as well throw this one in. Smooth joyful dance grooves from Chicago's own Reverend Green.)

Superstar - Carpenters (9/71; #2 for two weeks - this haunting ballad was co-written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett and comes to you tonight on the stereo side of a radio station promo 45.)

Stormy - Classics IV (10/68; #5 - this one is much in the vein of their first big hit "Spooky," but they were really beginning to refine the smooth sound that would take them to the Adult Contemporary charts.)

September Gurls - Big Star (1974; dnc - this was the lead single from their Radio City LP, but it failed to chart nationally. That said, Rolling Stone ranks it at #180 in their RS500. Alex Chilton lives!)

Patches - Dickey Lee (8/62; #6 - Dickey was just a boy when he recorded this heartbreaking smash. He went on to a successful career in Nashville, but this was his biggest hit of them all.)

* Glendale Train - New Riders of the Purple Sage (1971; nr - our man Buz loved these guys. This first album featured Jerry Garcia on pedal steel guitar.)

* Rock & Roll Band - Boston (9/76; dnc - we close our show with this sizzling record from the band called Boston. Buz' daughter Chrissy called this one in  -  they remember dancing around the house to this album. RIP, Buz.)

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)





Congratulations to Martine from Freeville, for being my fifth callern and winning a pair of tickets to "A Christmas Carol" at the Hangar Theatre!



Glossary of Terms:

dnc = did not chart

nr = not released as a single at the time

AC = Billboard’s chart for “Adult Contemporary” records

BB = Billboard Magazine, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100

C&W = Billboard’s chart for “Country & Western” records

R&B = Billboard’s chart for “Rhythm & Blues” records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
RS500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranked list of the top 500 singles of all-time




Host Next Week (12/8/18):  John Rudan with a spotlight on Oldies in contemporary TV commercials!



Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or at wvbr.com/listen.

Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!